Thousands of soldiers have fanned out across the Indian state of Assam, looking for rebels who have killed at least 70 people since the weekend. Military officials say 2,000 more soldiers are on stand-by. Indian defence minister AK Antony and army chief General JJ Singh have arrived in the state to assess what can be done. In the continuing violence, two more Hindi-speaking migrants have been killed in a late-night attack. Authorities blame the attacks on the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) rebels, who are fighting for an independent homeland. Joint offensive Military officials say 13,000 soldiers and paramilitary troops are scouring wide stretches of forest and mountainous terrain along the state's northern border with Arunachal Pradesh state. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

A cargo plane carrying Turkish construction workers crashed during landing at a foggy airstrip north of Baghdad, killing 32 people and injuring at least one, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Two people were unaccounted for.Private Turkish news agencies said the plane was trying to land at the U.S. military base in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad. The Foreign Ministry did not say whether the crash was at the base.An Iraqi security official said the passengers were mostly Turks who worked at the airport in Baghdad. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said initial reports indicated the plane went down due to bad weather and heavy fog. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not yet been authorized....http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/09/ap/world/mainD8MHSIGG8.shtml

US and Iraqi troops have waged fierce battles with Sunni fighters in central Baghdad, reportedly killing 50 people. The joint US-Iraqi forces were backed by US aircraft which fired into the Haifa Street area, witnesses said. The aim of the operation was to purge the district from "terrorists", Iraqi defence ministry spokesman Maj Gen Ibrahim Shaker said. The fighting came after Prime Minister Nouri Maliki promised tough action against illegal armed groups. "All our political, economic, media, security and military resources will be used to support the operations which the capital Baghdad is waiting for," he said. The Iraqi defence ministry said some 50 people had been killed and 21 militants - including seven foreigners - arrested in Tuesday's fighting. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6243945.stm

Japan's PM Shinzo Abe says his country cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea and wants closer international co-operation to stop such an outcome. In a BBC interview, Mr Abe also defended his plans for Japan to develop a more assertive foreign policy. He made clear he believes North Korea poses a very grave threat to the world. Mr Abe begins a trip to Europe in London where he is due to hold discussions with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "If the North Koreans are to possess nuclear weapons that may lead to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," he said. "That could fundamentally undermine the non-proliferation regime, which may then lead to more problems regarding Iran for example." Mr Abe's visit to Europe is an opportunity for a prime minister who is just a few months into the job to start to build closer relationships with Western leaders. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6241191.stm

The federal government will distribute $445 million to U.S. cities to help protect ports, subways, rails and other infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks.Nearly half the grant money, $201 million, would be used to secure ports and subway systems, including Amtrak. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would get the biggest share of those funds, $27.2 million. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was announcing the grants Tuesday. The funding was summarized in a report obtained by The Associated Press ahead of Chertoff's announcement. The New Orleans region, devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, will get $17.3 million, followed by $15.7 million for the Houston area. DHS set aside $172 million to protect the nation's transit systems, with New York City and northern New Jersey getting the largest cut of $61 million. Washington, D.C. and the Baltimore area will get $18.5 million, the Boston area $15.3 million, followed by the San Francisco Bay area ...http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-09-securitygrants_x.htm?csp=34

Duke University President Richard Brodhead defended his decision to readmit two lacrosse players accused of sexual assault in a letter Monday that also harshly criticized the lead prosecutor in the case.And, with classes for the spring semester set to resume on Wednesday, Brodhead called for civil debate about the issues of race and class that arose after the accuser in the case alleged in March she had been raped at a lacrosse team party.All but one of the players on last year's lacrosse team was white. The accuser is black."We must work together to restore the fabric of mutual respect," Brodhead said in a letter addressed to the "Duke Community." "One of the things I have most regretted is the way students and faculty have felt themselves disparaged and their views caricatured in ongoing debates."...http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242536,00.html